A historic T20I series victory for India Women over England was slightly dampened as they suffered a 5-wicket defeat in the fifth and final T20I at Edgbaston, Birmingham. Despite the loss, India clinched the series 3-2, marking their first-ever T20I series win against England.
India, after being sent in to bat, posted a total of 167/7, largely thanks to a brilliant innings by Shafali Verma. The young opener smashed 75 runs off just 41 balls, including 13 fours and a six. Verma's aggressive approach propelled India after the early loss of Smriti Mandhana and Jemimah Rodrigues. Mandhana started aggressively with consecutive boundaries but was soon caught out, while Rodrigues didn't last long either.
Verma then partnered with skipper Harmanpreet Kaur, adding 66 runs for the third wicket. Kaur, however, played second fiddle, scoring 15 off 18 balls before being dismissed by Charlie Dean. Verma continued her onslaught, forming another small partnership with Harleen Deol, before she was caught by Maia Bouchier at long-on off Dean's bowling. Her knock included a flurry of boundaries, with a particularly brutal assault on Issy Wong in the seventh over, where she hit three fours and a six, accumulating 20 runs. She reached her fifty in just 23 balls, the second joint-fastest by an Indian woman in WT20Is.
After Verma's dismissal, Richa Ghosh contributed a quickfire 24 off 16 balls, and Radha Yadav added 14, helping India reach a competitive total. However, England's spinners, particularly Charlie Dean (3/23) and Sophie Ecclestone (2/28), managed to peg India back in the later overs.
Chasing 168 for victory, England's openers, Sophia Dunkley (46 off 30) and Danni Wyatt-Hodge (56 off 37), set a strong foundation with a century stand. Wyatt-Hodge, celebrating her 300th international cap, struck her 21st T20I fifty. Despite losing Dunkley and a few wickets in the middle overs, England managed to stay on track.
England ultimately sealed the victory on the last ball, finishing at 168/5, achieving their record women's run-chase at Edgbaston. This win provided a morale boost for England as they headed into the three-match ODI series.
While Shafali Verma's brilliant 75 went in vain, her performance was a testament to her talent and aggressive batting style. This was her second fifty against England in WT20Is. She has now scored 2,211 runs at an average of 26.12 and has 11 fifties in WT20Is. Despite the loss in the final T20I, India can celebrate a well-deserved series victory, showcasing their growth and dominance in the T20 format.
